The village of Boum'Aiza, inhabited by Harratines, has been embroiled in a land dispute for over a decade. A wealthy individual has been trying to evict the villagers from their land, despite not having any title of ownership. The villagers have been involved in nine court cases, with six rulings in their favor. However, the judiciary has seemingly favored the wealthy individual, with some judges being close relatives of the opposing party.
A delegation from the IRA movement, led by Marième Mint Cheikh and Ghamou Achour, visited the village on September 18, 2026, to show support to the villagers. The delegation was responding to an urgent appeal from the villagers, who felt their voices were not being heard due to their lack of tribal or political influence. The IRA movement has been actively involved in advocating for the rights of marginalized communities in Mauritania.
According to Marième Mint Cheikh, the villagers have been subjected to an "arbitrary and illegal" court decision that was set to be executed on September 18, 2026. The decision was made without the villagers' knowledge or presence in court, and their lawyer had requested an objection to the judge due to a conflict of interest. However, this request was rejected. The villagers claim that the judge, who is a cousin of the wealthy individual, made a ruling in favor of his relative.
The villagers of Boum'Aiza have been living on the land for nearly a century, and they claim that it has been in their families for generations. They argue that the wealthy individual, who is from a different region, has no right to claim ownership of their land. The villagers also point out that they are not slaves, and therefore, the rules of the Code noir, which are still in effect in Mauritania, should not be applied to them.
Feitmat Mint Salem, a villager, shared her story, stating that she was born in Boum'Aiza and has lived there for over 60 years. She claimed that the wealthy individual and his children are from a different region and have no connection to the land. The villagers had previously approached Birame Dah Abeid, the president of the IRA movement, for help, and he had promised to support them.
The IRA movement's involvement in the case has brought attention to the plight of the villagers, who have been facing injustice for years. The movement's support has given them hope that their voices will be heard, and their rights will be protected. The villagers have stated that they are willing to die to defend their land, which has been in their families for generations.
The land dispute in Boum'Aiza highlights the ongoing issues of social and economic inequality in Mauritania. The case has also raised concerns about the role of the judiciary in protecting the rights of marginalized communities. The IRA movement's efforts to bring attention to the case have sparked a national conversation about the need for greater accountability and justice in the country.
Key points
- The villagers of Boum'Aiza face eviction from their land due to a court decision that favored a wealthy individual with alleged ties to the judiciary.
